2026 Olympics: Milano Cortina Winter Games Schedule and Possible New Events

The dust has yet to settle on the 2022 Winter Olympics, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to what awaits in four years. 

The International Olympic Committee announced in June 2019 that Milano Cortina, Italy will host the 2026 Games. 

IOC president Thomas Bach issued a statement in the official announcement: 

"Congratulations to Milano Cortina. We can look forward to outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country. The passion and knowledge of Italian fans, together with experienced venue operators, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best athletes in the world. The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will feature iconic venues and beautiful settings, combining the attractions of a modern European metropolis with a classic Alpine environment."

Dates, Locations for 2026 Olympics 

The Milano Cortina Games will take place from Feb. 2-22, 2026. San Siro Stadium in Milan will host the Opening Ceremony, with Verona Arena in Verona being the site of the Closing Ceremony. 

Several venues throughout the Milano Cortina area will host the 114 different events across eight sports that will make up the 2026 Games. 

New Events

During an IOC session last July, the organization unanimously approved the addition of ski mountaineering to the Winter Olympics program. 

Per USASkimo.org, ski mountaineering is a "human-powered endurance competition that involves climbing mountains on skis and/or by foot and in many race disciplines, passing through a series of transitions before descending on skis."

A total of five medal events in skimo will take place at the 2026 Olympics: Men's and women's individual and sprint and a mixed relay competition. 

The site notes that the team event usually features teams comprised of two or three athletes with "at least 3 ascents and descents," but long-distance races could feature more. 

Sprint races are "heat-based mini individual races" that combine essential features and "techniques with an ascent on skins, part of the ascent on foot with skis on the rucksack and then a single descent from the top."

The relay competition features each member of the team competing in one individual event that often "lasts about 15 minutes and includes two ascents and descents."

Ski mountaineering will have an athlete quote of 48, divided evenly with 24 men and 24 women. 

The IOC noted the full ski mountaineering program will be determined at the executive board meeting in June. 

At this point, ski mountaineering is the only event that has been added to the 2026 schedule. 

It's unclear at this point if NHL players will play in the hockey event four years from now. There was an agreement in place for them to take part in the Beijing Games, but the NHL announced in December players wouldn't travel after the league had to pause the season for five days due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. 

Luc Tardif, International Ice Hockey Federation president, told reporters this week he is "optimistic" about a deal between the NHL, NHL Players' Association and IOC that would allow players to participate in the Olympics. 

The last time NHL players took part in the Winter Games was 2014. They didn't take part in the 2018 Olympics due to a dispute between the league and IOC over which would cover the cost of travel, insurance and accommodations.